Genetics, Vol. 153, 361-382, September 1999, Copyright © 1999

The Catecholamines up (Catsup) Protein of Drosophila melanogaster Functions as a Negative Regulator of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity

Dean G. Stathakisa, Denise Y. Burtonb, Wilson E. McIvora, Sujatha Krishnakumarb, Theodore R. F. Wrighta, and Janis M. O'Donnellb
a Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-2477
b Department of Biological Sciences and Coalition for Biomolecular Products, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0344

Corresponding author: Dean G. Stathakis, University of California, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, 4150 Biological Sciences II, Irvine, CA 92697-2275., dgstatha{at}uci.edu (E-mail)

Communicating editor: V. G. FINNERTY

We report the genetic, phenotypic, and biochemical analyses of Catecholamines up (Catsup), a gene that encodes a negative regulator of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity. Mutations within this locus are semidominant lethals of variable penetrance that result in three broad, overlapping effective lethal phases (ELPs), indicating that the Catsup gene product is essential throughout development. Mutants from each ELP exhibit either cuticle defects or catecholamine-related abnormalities, such as melanotic salivary glands or pseudotumors. Additionally, Catsup mutants have significantly elevated TH activity that may arise from a post-translational modification of the enzyme. The hyperactivation of TH in Catsup mutants results in abnormally high levels of catecholamines, which can account for the lethality, visible phenotypes, and female sterility observed in these mutants. We propose that Catsup is a component of a novel system that downregulates TH activity, making Catsup the fourth locus found within the Dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) gene cluster that functions in catecholamine metabolism.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
A. Chaudhuri, K. Bowling, C. Funderburk, H. Lawal, A. Inamdar, Z. Wang, and J. M. O'Donnell
Interaction of Genetic and Environmental Factors in a Drosophila Parkinsonism Model
J. Neurosci., March 7, 2007; 27(10): 2457 - 2467.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
T.-K. Sang, H.-Y. Chang, G. M. Lawless, A. Ratnaparkhi, L. Mee, L. C. Ackerson, N. T. Maidment, D. E. Krantz, and G. R. Jackson
A Drosophila Model of Mutant Human Parkin-Induced Toxicity Demonstrates Selective Loss of Dopaminergic Neurons and Dependence on Cellular Dopamine
J. Neurosci., January 31, 2007; 27(5): 981 - 992.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
K. W. Jordan, T. J. Morgan, and T. F. C. Mackay
Quantitative Trait Loci for Locomotor Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
Genetics, September 1, 2006; 174(1): 271 - 284.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
A. Kumanovics, K. E. Poruk, K. A. Osborn, D. M. Ward, and J. Kaplan
YKE4 (YIL023C) Encodes a Bidirectional Zinc Transporter in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
J. Biol. Chem., August 11, 2006; 281(32): 22566 - 22574.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
W. R. Mathews, D. Ong, A. B. Milutinovich, and M. Van Doren
Zinc transport activity of Fear of Intimacy is essential for proper gonad morphogenesis and DE-cadherin expression
Development, March 15, 2006; 133(6): 1143 - 1153.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
M. A. Carbone, A. Llopart, M. deAngelis, J. A. Coyne, and T. F. C. Mackay
Quantitative Trait Loci Affecting the Difference in Pigmentation Between Drosophila yakuba and D. santomea
Genetics, September 1, 2005; 171(1): 211 - 225.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Phil Trans R Soc BHome page
T. F.C Mackay and R. F Lyman
Drosophila bristles and the nature of quantitative genetic variation
Phil Trans R Soc B, July 29, 2005; 360(1459): 1513 - 1527.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 GeneticsHome page
A. B. Milchanowski, A. L. Henkenius, M. Narayanan, V. Hartenstein, and U. Banerjee
Identification and Characterization of Genes Involved in Embryonic Crystal Cell Formation During Drosophila Hematopoiesis
Genetics, September 1, 2004; 168(1): 325 - 339.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Biol. Chem.Home page
N. Silverman, R. Zhou, R. L. Erlich, M. Hunter, E. Bernstein, D. Schneider, and T. Maniatis
Immune Activation of NF-{kappa}B and JNK Requires Drosophila TAK1
J. Biol. Chem., December 5, 2003; 278(49): 48928 - 48934.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 DevelopmentHome page
M. Van Doren, W. R. Mathews, M. Samuels, L. A. Moore, H. T. Broihier, and R. Lehmann
fear of intimacy encodes a novel transmembrane protein required for gonad morphogenesis in Drosophila
Development, June 1, 2003; 130(11): 2355 - 2364.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Mol. Biol. CellHome page
C. Merino, E. Reynaud, M. Vazquez, and M. Zurita
DNA Repair and Transcriptional Effects of Mutations in TFIIH in Drosophila Development
Mol. Biol. Cell, September 1, 2002; 13(9): 3246 - 3256.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
G. Dimopoulos, G. K. Christophides, S. Meister, J. Schultz, K. P. White, C. Barillas-Mury, and F. C. Kafatos
Genome expression analysis of Anopheles gambiae: Responses to injury, bacterial challenge, and malaria infection
PNAS, June 25, 2002; 99(13): 8814 - 8819.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Plant CellHome page
J. Lasswell, L. E. Rogg, D. C. Nelson, C. Rongey, and B. Bartel
Cloning and Characterization of IAR1, a Gene Required for Auxin Conjugate Sensitivity in Arabidopsis
PLANT CELL, December 1, 2000; 12(12): 2395 - 2408.
[Abstract] [Full Text]